By Mike Dinsdale, Glen Prentice and NZPA
A fisherman's death off the Far North coast has prompted fresh warnings from Water Safety New Zealand to be vigilant on the water. Rescuers yesterday found the body of a 58-year-old man and were to resume the search for a 20-year-old who was with him today.
The pair set off in a four-metre dinghy from Te Ngaire Bay, between Whangaroa Harbour and the Bay of Islands, about 8am on Monday and were expected back about 1pm. Police said the men had no life jackets, radio or flares and the pair had not given an intended destination before heading out.
A full-scale search got under way at first light yesterday after family and friends raised the alarm on Monday night.
Northland search and rescue head Sergeant Cliff Metcalfe said the upturned dinghy was spotted from the air about six nautical miles east of Motukawaiti Island around 1pm. A body was found by a coastguard boat about 3pm two nautical miles from the boat.
Searchers were today to use kayaks to search bays and inlets in the Cavalli Islands for the missing 20-year-old.
It has been a horror week for water fatalities in Northland.
On Wednesday, Desmond McAllister, of Oakura, died after surfacing from a dive off the Tutukaka Coast and on Thursday American tourist Nigel Holton died while swimming at Mitimiti Beach, 13km north of Hokianga Harbour.
WSNZ figures show seven people have drowned in Northland this year - three within the last week. That compares with nine for the whole of last year, the lowest number for six years and only the second time since 1991 that drownings were in single figures. WSNZ project manager Matt Claridge said Northland - with 1700km of coastline and many lakes and rivers - was a big concern to the organisation.
The region regularly contributed between 10 and 15 percent of the country's drowning deaths.
Mr Claridge said with summer approaching people would soon be flocking to the coast and rivers.
"It's the time when people bring out their boating and fishing gear that's been in hibernation over the winter and people need to make sure that they check their equipment," he said.
"Make sure you have enough fuel and your fuel pump works. Also make sure you have enough properly fitting lifejackets for everybody on the boat."
He said no matter how small a boat was the skipper should make sure there was a working UHF radio on board in case of emergency. Flares should also be carried on all boating trips and it was wise to let people know when anyone planned to be back.
Death at sea adds to horror week
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